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Aronian, Levon 2802 vs Carlsen, Magnus 2826 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 we have a very popular line of Queen Indian defense. 5th Qa4 is often played, anyhow 5.b3 still remain the main move for many years. Big expert in the current line is Peter Leko, who showed us very many interesting games with deep analyses 5... Be7 6. Bg2 c6 here comes the first little surprise: 5...Be7!? with 6...c6, a quite a rare line, main would be 5...c5 or 5...Bb7 7. Nc3 O-O the main idea of Black now is to play a pawn sacrifize by for ex: 8.O-O b5!? Then 9.cxb5 cxb5 10.Nxb5 Qb6 11.Nc3 Nc6 and all black pieces are developed. A very typical "game" for Carlsen who likes a lot to play with initiative. The current theory is saying, that it might be not a bad idea now to play 8.Ne5-protecting from the b5 move, Black could answer with 8...Qe8 8. O-O d5 9. Ne5 9...Qe8 seems to be now the main theoretical move 9... Qe8 10. b3 10.b3!N here comes the novelty! Probably yet another great material for the next issue of Chess Evolution. 10.Qb3 has been played until now, which gave Black a possibility of 10...Nfd7 with not clear situation. And we can see one more time how deep is actually the preparation of the Armenian players, a novelty in a sideline-which been very very difficult to aspect. What to do now for Black? Black have to take some actions, in case White manage to develop for ex: Bf4, Rfc1 Whites position will be clearly better. 10...b5 should be the first intention, after 11.Qa5 seems to be only Whites move 10... b5 now 11...bxc4 12.bxc4 and maybe Qd8 or 12...Nfd7, both moves seems to give Black a normal play from the first look. but probably Aronian did a bit analyses in this line... What else to do? 10...Bb7 ( with the idea to play c5) 11.Ba3 looks clearly better for White... 10...Nfd7 doesn't seem to work because of 11.Nxc6 Nxc6 12.Qxc6 Rc8 13.Qa4 and the bishop on a6 is hanging. So as mentioned Qa5 should be next. 11. Qa5 I think Black needs to take now first 11...bxc4 before playing Qd8. At immediate 11...Qd8 could follow 12.Qxd8 Rxd8 13.cxb5! cxb5 and 14.a4! and White are having clearly a better endgame 11... Bd8 11...Bd8 very quickly played...could it be that also Carlsen had this position in his analyses...this move is looking a bit strange to me. What to do after 12.Qa3 Be7 13.c5 and it seems that White should be better 12. Qa3 Be7 13. c5 seems like maybe I have lack of understand in chess:). In my opinion such structures are always a bit better for White - of course Black are doing very safe, but White has much more space... maybe today Carlsen will give us all a lesson why it is not like that! 13... Bb7 Black's perfect plan would be now: to play a5,b4, ba6, Nfd7 after which probably position would be around equal. White has a lot of moves to stop Black for it...for ex: 14.Qb2 a5 15. a3!?, and next moves of White could be Bd2, f4 ( with idea f5) Black will need to play g6 and maybe Kh1 with a preparation for the attack on the Black king....... as more I look at the position, as more it seems everything not as clear as I though first... Black can be very fast with Nbd7 ( maybe Nfd7) and it is not so clear if Black can maybe even play 14.Qb2 b4!? 14. Qb2 14.Qb2 most logical, but maybe not the most accurate. Can Black play now the quick 14...Nfd7 with the idea to play on 15.Nd3 e5!? or 15...Bf6 16.Bf4 Bxd6 17.Bd6 and it seems White will be exchange up, but probably Black will have a good play for it. So what to do now at 14...Nfd7!? if 15.Nd3 is not working, White got only 2 other options: 15.Nxd7 Nxd7 16.f4 ( Black wanted to play e5) but the position is not looking better for White or 15.f4 Nxe5 16.fxe5 Nd7 followed by f6 move and Black should be at least fine too 14... a5 Carlsen is missing this great opportunity 14...Nfd7 and playing th standard 14...a5. in a rapid game and maybe in a normal game I would have played myself almost instantly 14...a5 - most logical, but at home, sitting in a nice chair and having my engine running, I am becoming very smart with my proposals 15. Nd3 of course Aronian is not giving a second chance for Nfd7 and is playing 15.Nd3. The funny thing is, that it might be, that 15...Nfd7 is anyway the best way to play for Black... after 15...Nbd7 the Blacks night on f6 will have a terrible position, and it would be more easy for White to develop a dangerous attack by playing f4 ( provoking g6) then g4 and f5. Here we can clearly see the bad position of the knight f6, on Whites move f4 Black got no protection move f5 15... b4 16. Na4 Nbd7 In my opinion Blacks play during last moves was not great at all, the idea with playing b4, Nbd7 seems to bring Black into a worse position 17. a3 Aronian is absolutely correct 17.a3 is putting already Black into troubles after 17...bxa3 18.Rxa3 followed by Bd2, Rfa1 and the a pawn will fall, 17...Ba6 18.axb4 Bxd3 19.exd3 axb4 20.Bd2 is looking clearly better for White as well. 17... Ba6 18. Rd1 18.Rd1-also a good move. Maybe Aronian is thinking that there is no reason to double the pawns on the d line, but I think 18.axb4 would have brought White as well a solid and stable advantage. I think Black has to use the chance of the moment 18...Bxd3 19.Rxd3 ( probably 19.exd3 is still good here but it is impossible to make it after 18.Rd1) 19...e5!? 20.dxe5 Ng4 - probably White is still doing better but Black at least go out of this super passive structure 18... Bxd3 19. Rxd3 Ne4 why not 19...e5!? I think it was the better choice. A bit strange play by Carlsen, maybe he still needs some time to "warm up". Normally moves like 19...e5 he would have played instantly. Ed. note: interviews with GM Naiditsch at the ETCC after winning the gold medal at this link 20. f3 no wonder that Aronian took his time before playing 20.f3, White had a lot of interesting oportunities, but defenetly 20.f3 is the main! Black got nothing better than to play 20...Nef6 and after 21.Bd2 ( maybe even making sence to play first Rd1 and then Bd2-white rooks would be connected) White be clearly maybe even "a lot " better 20... Nef6 21. Rd1 Aronian is taking his time, Rd1! no reason to hurry. I think Aronian's idea in general is to play 21...e5 22.e3! avoiding any complications in the center... In case Black does not manage to find anything, White will be much better after easy moves like Bd2, then axb4 axb4, Qc2 and Nb2-d3 21... e5 finally we see the move 21...e5, better late then never...Iit is always very amazing to see, that even if Carlsen is not in a good shape, and doing few inaccurate moves, he is always managing to consolidate his powers in the critical moments. Not many players can do this, normally many are playing clearly under their level in case they start a game badly... a bit strange that Aronian is taking a thought, I believed his idea would be always to play e3 on Black's e5. On 22.exe5 Nxe5 Black should be fine 22. e3 finally we see the move 22.e3, a bit hard to understand what else Aronian wanted to do and what was he thinking about? Black plan could be now : 22...Bd8-c7 and then h5-h4 trying to create something on the king-side. It is clear, that Black are not able to keep the position by doing quite moves, Bd2 and the maneuverer of the night to d3 will clearly lead to a simple loose of black pawn on b4 22... bxa3 in todays game it seems to guess 2 moves in a roll is impossible . 22...bxa3 has a clear idea, Magnus wants to play Bd8-c7 and having his pawn on a5 protected. But is it really such a good idea? White could switch to for ex: 23.Rya3 Bd8 24.Qf2!? and Nb2-d3 will follow. Rook on a3 is standing perfect, protecting the pawn b3 just in case, and White would want to play Bd2, Rfa1 and maybe just to take on a5 or to play b4...to me the move 22...bxa3 seems to be a very dangerous strategic decision 23. Qc2 Bd8 24. Bxa3 hard to understand, why Aronian likes his bishop on a3 more than on d2... 24... Rb8 25. Re1 Qe6 Black are preventing with this move the development of the White bishop to h3, also the idea of Black could be to play h5, and in a good moment e4-trying to cover the white squares. What to do now for White-is a big question. To prepare a break through with e4!? probably not. The bishop on a3 is horrible. 26. Nb2 Black actually has only one weakness, and this is the pawn a5, but it seems like White doesn't want to make use out of it- I am not really sure why! 26... Re8 27. Nd3 finally White are deciding to bring the knight to d3, but now it is not the same! On Nd3 Black will always got the very unpleasant move-e4! In this game we can see, how White is letting its advantage move by move out of their hands and Black are taking over. I would not wonder if Carlsen manages to win the game today and it will still be a big question to me, why did Aronian not take with his rook on a3 and put the bishop on d2-this was looking much more natural and probably was the right way 27... Bc7 same move by Magnus, 27...Bc7. 27...e4 was also possible and deserved at least attention, White would have been forced to play 28.Nf2 ( I think after 28.Nf4 Qe7 Blacks position is very fine) 28...exf3 29.Bxf3 Ne4! and I cant imagine that Whites position should be better here 28. Bb2 e4 29. Nf2 Now probably Magnus will take on f3 and put knight to e4 to stop some potential e3-e4. Looks that black is slowly taking the initiative. 29...exf3 30. Bxf3 Ne4 31. Nxe4 dxe4 with next Nf6-Nd5-h5-h4 29... exf3 30. Bxf3 Ne4 31. Nxe4 dxe4 32. Bd1 the only one plan for white is trying to makes pressure on a5 pawn. As they follow the variation given above Nf6-Nd5-h5-h4 is expected from black. Now black should put knight on d5 and start attack white king by h5-h4 or f5-g5-f4, in this time white normally should try make pressure on a5 pawn but anyway I like the black's position better. Black pieces are good placed to create pressure against white king and white bishops are not so strong 32... Nf6 33. Bc3 seems that will be not easy to defend a5 pawn, but black will have compensation anyway with strong knight on d5 and potentially weak white king 33... Nd5 34. Bxa5 The game can finish after : 34. Bxa5 Ra8 35. Qd2 Qg6 36. Bc2 Bxg3 37. hxg3 Rxa5 and Qxg3 next with perpetual check34... Ra8 35. Qd2 Qg6 If now 36. Kg2 then 36...Bxa5 37. Rxa5 Rxa5 38. Qxa5 Qg5 39. Qd2 Rb8 and black has compensation thanks better pieces but general not easy to improve the position for both sides. The Queen on g6 is good placed because prepares h5-h4 and also some tricks with Bxg3. After 36. Bc2 if black doesn't want to make a draw after Bxg3 and try 36...Bxa5 37. Rxa5 Rxa5 38. Qxa5 h4 39. b4! h4 40. Bb3 hxg3 41. Bxd5 gh2 42. Kh1. cxd5 and two passed white pawns can be dangerous and black pawn on h2 only helps defend white king! 36. Kh1 Aronian offered Carlsen to play other forced drawish line after 36... Qh6 37. Kg1 Rxa5 38. Rxa5 Bxa5 39. Qxa5 Nxe3 40. Qd2 Nf5 41. Qxh6 gxh6 42. Bc2 Nxd4 43. Rxe4 Rxe4 44. Bxe4 Nxb3 45.Bxc6 Nxc5 =36... Qh6 37. b4 Aronian fights on and give back the pawn for activate the bishop from d1 Bxg3 37... Bxg3 now after Re2 position will be unclear,main task of white will be some how break black solid knight on d5 and activate pawns, black will have counterplay against e3 pawn. Now is the choice between tempo move Rg1 or Re2 where rook is better placed because protect pawn on e3 38. Rg1 Now black has to play logical 38... Bh4 with next Bg5 (pressure against pawn on e3) 38...Bc7 is much worse because after 39. Bb3 black can lose control on d5 square. 38... Bh4 39. Bb3 Aronian sacrifices another pawn, the idea of his is activate pawns, seems too optimistic.39... Bg5 seems that 39...Bg5 is mistake, Carlsen should take the pawn now after 40. Bxd5 Bxe3 41. Bxf7 Kxf7 42. Qa2 Qe6 43. Rgf1 Kf8 44. Qxe6 Rxe6 white will have advantage because will be not easy for black to stop some b5 or d5 break and activate white pawns. 40. Bxd5 Bxe3 41.Bxf7 Kxf7 42. Qa2 Qe6 43. Rgf1 very important move as black king has to go back and will not help stop white pawns, ...Kg8 44. Qxe6 (in case 43...Ke7 white not exchange the queens of course) Rxe6 45. Rad1 white prepares d5, while 45...Bh6 white idea looking for counterplay after e3-e2 41. Bxf7+ Kxf7 42. Qa2+ Qe6 43. Rgf1+ Kg8 44. Qxe6+ Rxe6 45. Rad1 Now the main idea for black is to play very active for example g5-Bf4-e3 or Bh6-e3, White will get two passed pawns after d5, but also will be not easy to advance them. 45... Bg5 Carlsen put the bishop on diagonal h4-d8 to have always useful Bh4 move (control e1 square) 46. d5 cxd5 47. Rxd5 47...,Bh4 48 Rd4 (stops e3 ) and now interesting 48...h5 with nice trap 49. Rc4 (idea c6) than 49...,e3! 50. Rxh4 e2 51. Re1 Rf8 (and white has not Rg4) 52. Kg2 Rg6 -+ 47... Bf6 48.Re1 e3 49.Rd6 Re4 (49..Rae8? 50. Rxe6 Rxe6 51. b5 and bishop on a5 start play) 50. c6 Bc3 51. Re2 Bxb4 52. Bxb4 Rxb4 53. c7 Re4 54. Ra2 Rc8 55. Rd8 Re8 56. Rxe8 Rxe8 57. Rb2 e2 58. Rxe2 Rc8 59. Re7 h5 with plan Kh7-Kg6-Kf6-g5 = 48. Rd6 Now natural looks Kf7 with idea activate the king which will help to stop white pawns 48... Rxd6 49. cxd6 Bd8 Now after Bc7 Aronian is wining, after a forced line white will get position with bishop and pawn against two pawns but the corner on h8 is correct for white. 50. Rf5 He missed the important Bc7 as after that 50...e3 51.b5 Bh4 52. d7 e2 53. Rg1 e1 54. Rxe1 Bxe1 55. d8 Rxd8 56. Bxd8 and black must give the bishop for b pawn and the position will be wining for white because h8 corner is the same color like white bishop. Now in this case 50. ... Bxa5 51. bxa5 Rd8 52. Rd5 Kf7 53. a6 Ke6 54. Rd4 Kd7 55. Rxe4 Ra8 will produce a draw. 50... Bxa5 51. bxa5 Rd8 The key of Aronian's mistake was probably 52. Rd5 Kf7 53. d7 Ke6 and maybe Aronian missed that black can simply take on d7 52. Rd5 Kf7 53. a6 Ke6 54. Rd4 Kd7 55. Rb4 e3 56. Kg2 The pawns a6 and d6 will probably be exchanged for the e pawn and black king will have enough time to go back to king side. 56... Rf8 57. a7 The game ends in a draw. Interesting opening phase turned the battle into a psychological fight that prompted both players to have inaccuracies. In the end a game that could have gone in any direction ends in a draw. Thank you for following with me GM Arkadij Naiditsch and the Chess Evolution team, see you tomorrow for more live commentary on Chessdom / Chessbomb live games platform. 57... e2 The game ends in a draw. Interesting opening phase turned the battle into a psychological fight that prompted both players to have inaccuracies. In the end a game that could have gone in any direction ends in a draw. ½-½

Carlsen, Magnus vs Gelfand, Boris 1-01. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Expected opening by Carlsen with 1.d4 and even more expected reply from Gelfand, he is playing the usual Slav. Carlsen is choosing a silent line which he prefers to play in a lot of games 4.e3 4... Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 Gelfand is choosing the super safe 6...Bg6. As we maybe remember, Vallejo has chosen the 6...Bg4 7.f3 Bh5 8.Qb3 Qb6 9.g4 Bg6...and got slightly worse endgame against Magnus 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Bd3 Nbd7 in Carlsen game we are still in the theory of a little "boring" line. White is trying to achieve a minimal advantage using in the future the power of the bishop pair, Black is trying to exchange all pawns in the center by playing dxc4 and pushing c5 or e5. Seems like it is going to be a long positional game 9. O-O Bd6 10. h3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Nb6 game could continue now 12.Be2 e5 13.a4 ed 14.Qd4 Qe7 and in my opinion if White got an advantage then a minimal one... Lately by commenting games on Chessdom I got an impression, that Carlsen likes a lot to put his bishop on b3 instead of usual position of the bishop on d3 or e2 for such structures... let's see if also today he will continue with his preferable place and will play 12.Bb3 12. Bb3 yes, never change the winning move Carlsen puts the bishop to his favorite square, 12.Bb3. Can maybe Black make use out of it and play 12...g5!?, threat is g4, in case of 13.e3 Bf4 and it looks like a very complicated position to me 12... e5 a bit pity that Boris is deciding to play the "usual" ideas 12...e5, would be a very interesting game after 12...g5!?, now actually maybe it is really making sense that the bishop is on b3 and not on e2, the field d5 is under control and at some lines pawns f7-g6 could get week, I think Carlsen managed to trick a little the World Champion Candidate Boris Gelfand. 13. Qc2 I felt something would be wrong with the pawns f7-g6 and here we see: 13.Qc2! White is not giving Black possibility to castle short ( castle long is not an option), next moves of White are simple: Rd1, maybe dxe5 with e4-f4 coming next 13... Qe7 14. Bd2 after a very long thinking Boris is playing 13...Qe7 and Carlsen replying instantly 14.Bd2... now at 14....e4 15.f3! looks nice. 14...O-O-O looks super dangerous and should be always a bad move. 14...O-O is not possible because of 15.Qxg6, not easy to play black here. Meanwhile White's move can be super easy, like Rae1, or dxe5 followed by f4,e4, also a4 could be very useful move in the future. In my opinion Gelfand is already now facing serious problems. 14... O-O-O the game is getting exiting and I think will have a quick end, 14...O-O-O a clear sign of desperation. In my opinion 15.a4 is looking very strong now. Black would be almost forced to play 15...Kb8 16.a5 Nbd5 17.a6 and I cannot imagine that this position could be fine for Black. Maybe also an idea is to play now 15.Nb5 Bb8 ( Black needs to keep the bishop alive) and maybe now a4, so black king could not escape from the horrible position on c8 where he is under frequent attack. 15. d5 a very logical move but it seems to be a tactical mistake! 15...e4! now is leading to a maybe already better play for Black!! Amazing how quick things change on the chess board. It is very strange to understand this 15.d5 by Carlsen, of course he sees 15...e4 and of course 16.dxc6 Qe5 17.cxb7 Kb8 is also easy to calculate...where does he want to avoid and where he sees the advantage? 15... e4 16. dxc6 Qe5 17. f4 exf3 18. Rxf3 The position is super sharp, but clearly Black is doing fine. I think if Black manages to find now the 18...Ng4 he will be clear favorite to win the game. Also 18...Kb8 a nice prophylactic move cant be a bad move either 18... Ng4 Boris is a beast! he found 18...Ng4!! 19. cxb7+ Kb8 20. hxg4 Rh1+ 21. Kf2 Rxa1 22. Ne2 The idea of the last move of Carslen is to come with the knight to c6 square, the position is very unclear, black has few moves now, maybe22.., Bc5 !? Also interesting move is 22....,Rd7 idea to put rook on place where after eventual check will be not hanging 22... Bc5 Now after 23. Nd4 Rxd4 24. exd4 Bxd4 25. Be3 Bxe3 26. Rxe3 Qf4 the game can finish after perpetual check, but we hope that we will see something different and still we can watch fighting game. Black has quality more and very active pieces and in my opinion cannot be worse here. If 23. Rxf7 then 23... Rxd2! 24. Qxd2 Bxe3 25. Qxe3 Rf1 =+ because white lose the queen. One of the the main tasks for white is to put the knight on d4, so 23. Bc3 also deserves attention 23. Bc3 Now probably the best is 23...,Qe7 and white cannot take 24. Rxf7 because the pawn on e3 is hanging and also 24. Nd4 does not work because black can take twice on d4 and give mate on e1, but black also has other moves 23...Qh2 or 23...Qg5 23... Qe7 24. g5 I think now 24...Rdd1 should be the right move, not the strongest, but practically the best. White would be almost forced to take on d1, but it is well known, that it is much more easy to play with a queen than with many pieces... and also it is still obvious that Black should be better. I think 24...Qxg5 will be a mistake because of 25.Qe4 24... Rdd1 yes, Boris is taking the right decision and probably also doing the best move in the position 24...Rdd1! Carlsen maybe could try now the 25.Ng3 but it could be countered by very strong and not obvious 25...Bd6! Note: WWCC is live now here 25. Ng3 Magnus is trying to bluff! now the game's outcome almost depending on one move, will Gelfand find 25...Bd6 and probably win the game, or he will not find and White will be totally back even maybe having a better position 25... Bd6 Boris seems to be in super shape! He found the 25...Bd6! White I think have to take now on 26.Qxd1, on 26.Ne4 Rac1 is simple winning. Computer is giving a very strange 26.Qe2 with evaluate of equality...I am not so sure in that. First of all move like 26.Qe2 looks like a non sense and secondly position of Black is looking much better...we will see of course how the game will continue, but from human point of view moves like 26.Qe2 can be done only if really nothing else left...and not with a good feeling behind the move 26. Qe2 after quite a long thinking Carlsen is playing the 26.Qe2! to me it is almost a miracle, a super difficult move to make. I think human reaction would be now to play 26...Rg1 or Rdc1 26... Rg1 White got now many moves...probably computers are happy now with Whites position but from human point of view I think I would accept a draw immediately in case I had an offer... 2 rooks on the first rank and no material advantage for that, no, this is normally not looking good 27. Qd3 we are having an extremely disbalanced position in which every move can be an extremely important! and Boris having only 12 minutes for 13 moves, we can aspect big mistakes in the time troubles, I think now 27...Bc7 is looking very logical. Black needs to put their pieces together, also Black are protecting from "maybe a threat" Ne4.. 27... Bc7 it took Boris some time, but he agreed with me, that 27...Bc7 should be the strongest:) Now White has amazing amount of different moves...probably Black wants just to play Qxg5. 28.Ne4 is not looking too good for me, 28...Raf1 29.Ke2 Rxf3 and Black are doing clearly better in my opinion 28. Ne4 if Black could activate the Knight from b6 somehow. Probably it would be a huge improvement. maybe 28...Nd7 is also an opportunity next to 28...Raf1. Probably engines might not agree to me, but I think they don't need too. Also Carlsen and Gelfand are playing hopefully with out them . and for people who are thinking to understand all because of Houdini running, I would give an advice, don't look at it, it is much more fun and much more exiting to look at chess without it. 28... Raf1+ 29. Ke2 Rxf3 30. gxf3 in my opinion Whites position remains very risky... if Boris managed to bring his Queen somehow into attack it could mean almost the end for White... maybe on 30.. Rg2 check is not bad. Why not to cut the King on the first rank, seems like 31.Kf1 would be forced and now just 31...Rh2 and lets see in the future if Black manages to bring the Queen into attack. Also now 30...Be5 is looking logical. It is definitely good for Black to exchange the black color bishops. 30... f5 very nice play by Boris, great idea, forcing White to take 31.gxf6 gxf6 and bringing his queen on the h line. Only problem of Black is 2 minutes for 8 moves in such a crazy position. 31. gxf6 gxf6 probably 32.Bxf6 White needs to play and at 32...Qh7 have a deep thought... Knight on e4 can always go back to f2 to defend the King for half a tempo...maybe White will manage to create a counter attack on the Black king who is having at the moment a very safe position 32. Bxf6 Qh7 33. Qb5 Carlsen is playing like a computer! 33.Qb5! Amazing how Magnus can play so quick in such a complicated position. And the point is, not only quick play by White, but also strong! 33... Rg2+ probably now 34.Kd3 is possible... 34. Kd3 we can clearly see how White are outplaying his opponent in a very complicated position which is in my opinion much harder to play for White than for Black. We reached an endgame, White should do better but Black got good chances for escape... 34... Qd7+ 35. Qxd7 Nxd7 36. Bd5 Carlsen is doing again the only move to play for a win 36.Bd5! now Boris needs to find 36...Be5 to stay in the game, everything else is not good for black. 36... Be5 37. f4 37.f4 a great move by Magnus! Position is looking almost winning for white. Opposite color bishop endgame seems to be lost after 37....Nxf6 38. Nxf6 Bxf6 39.Bxg2 37... Bc7 And in time trouble a final mistake by Gelfand. The game is over. fantastic play by Magnus in a very unclear position! 38. Bc6 1-0

Svidler, Peter vs Anand, Viswanathan ½-½1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 Peter been a bit unlucky to loose yesterday against Ivanchuk. Somehow after winning in a great style the World Cup in Khanty Mansisk his results been not to good in next tournament 4... e6 Today Peter played first 1.e4, his main first move and Anand is answering with a Caro Cann defence. In my opinion Anand is choosing this opening in cases where he likes to have chances to play for a win, which is of course logical, it is clear that Peter is in a "shaky" shape-why not to try to make use out of it 5. Be2 Ne7 Anand is choosing the line with Ne7, this Caro Cann lines is very well analyzed in our book Chess Evolution in several issues mainly because of the popularity lately of Caro-Cann with 3.e5. and we have one of the biggest speciallist of this line in our team "Miton Kamil" who is playing it all his life, so in case you have the previous edition of Chess Evolution you perfectly know what is going to follow and how to play the line. 6. O-O c5 7. Na3 here we go with almost a novelty 7.Na3, normally white is playing first c4 and only then after dxc4 making this move. Let's think what Black can do about it... Moves like 7...Nec6 or maybe 7...a6 are most logical ones. Will Anand surprise us with something else? 7... Nec6 yes, Anand is choosing the most logical move 7...Nc6. Blacks idea is : Be7,h6,0-0, Nd7, Rc8 and Black are doing very good. We have a French defense structure with a bishop on f5 instead of on c8 which is super good for Black. White needs to act very quickly, this is why the move c4 is almost obligatory. 8. c4 cxd4 9. Nb5 In this position we had a game just a week ago, Gashimov-Grischuk from the European Ch, in my opinion the position looked a little bit better for White, but the game ended in a draw. In the game followed: 9...a6 10.Bg5! ( the key move) Qd7 11.Nbd4 Be4 12.Rc1 and I think White can press a little. As we all know, Anand is always very very well prepared and for sure well informed about all latest novelties. So lets see if he shows us something new or will just follow Grischuk which would mean for us that most probably Black are doing fine in this line with 7.Na3 9... a6 10. Bg5 Qd7 11. Nbxd4 Be4 Still in Gashimov - Grischuk. Grischuk and Svidler are very good friends, it might be that after the game Grischuk told Svidler something of what he were afraid during the game and we might see it today on the board... the opening stage of the game still stays very exiting 12. Rc1 h6 13. Bh4 here comes the novelty 13.Bh4! Very interesting to know what is Svidler planning to do at 13...Be7... 14.Bxe7 seems to be the only move, 14...Nxe7 15.cxd5 Bxd5 and Black wants to play Nbc6 with totally equal position so White got half a tempo to create something. Maybe an idea could be 13...Be7 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Nd2 !? but also here from the feeling Black should be fine after simple Nbc6! which is actually not that easy to make during the game, needs some calculation 13... Be7 Vishy is a machine! The best and only the best moves... 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 15. Nd2 15.Nd2 as expected, so what is Svidler planning to do at 15...Nbc6!? 15... Nbc6 16. N4b3 as we see Svidler clearly got a hint (or found the move himself) so Anand needs to be very precise now. It is clear, that most critical now is 16...Qc7. Then 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Qd6 with a big question, is White doing better ?16... Qc7 what we can see again and again in games of Anand, this is his amazing feeling for the right moves... 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Qd6 we reached the critical moment of the game 18.Qd6, now everything will be decided, draw or better for White 18... Qb6 interesting move by Vishy, probably 18...Rc8 was also possible. I see only one idea in that move at Whtie's 19.Qc5 to go back to Qc7 and hope that White got nothing better than Qd6... 19. Rfd1 O-O 20. Qc5 Qc7 I think whites only chance to play for win now is 21. Nd2. The position is looking close to equal, but it is not completely equal in my opinion... White still can try to push a little. Let's see in what mood is Svidler. 21. Qd6 Qb6 22. Qc5 Qc7 23. Qd6 Few people expected such a quick end of the game. ½-½

[Event "6th Tal Memorial"][Site "Moscow RUS"][Date "2011.11.18"][Round "3"][White "Kramnik,V"][Black "Carlsen,M"][Result "1/2-1/2"][WhiteElo "2800"][BlackElo "2826"][EventDate "2011.11.16"][ECO "A20"]1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Starting with the Candidates matches, English is one of the favorite openings of Kramnik. He will use it today to erase the bad start of the tournament, but against him he has an opponent going strongly for the first place. Interesting fight ahead on th board. 3... h6 3...h6 is an interesting move with the idea to control g5 square. For example, after 4.Nf3 Black will play e4 and there will be no good square for the knight . 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e4 Black has two options, the first one is to take on c3 and the second one is to play Nc6 or O-O. If Carlsen takes on c3, Kramnik will get a strong center so Black has to play quickly the plan with c6 and d5. The other plan is to play against the weak square on d4 . For example, Nc6 followed by Bc5 5... Nc6 6. Nge2 Bc5 The Norwegian player chose the second plan . For Kramnik , the plan is also quite simple. He will play O-O, Kh2 and f4. 7. d3 d6 8. h3 In fact, this position is not so easy for Black . If Carlsen tried to play with O-O-O, White will have a strong attack with a3 and b4 . 8... Nh7 Interesting move by Carlsen , he wants to play some typical plan with f5 . And for the moment , he doesn't want to show where he will hide his king 9. a3 a6 Both sides are playing prophylactic moves. Castling should come soon. 10. O-O An interesting possibility will be Ng5 and after Kh2 , Qd7 could be playable for Black putting some pressure on the kingside. It's a key moment for Carlsen , he has to find the right plan. 10... Ng5 11. Kh2 Ne6 Carlsen is playing more strategical with Ne6. He wants to have a total control of the central square d4 . Many choices for the Russian player , f4 is quite an active move, b4 is also possible. In my opinion, Kramnik will think a lot on this move. 12. f4 Great play by Kramnik, I think his position is already very pleasant. Black has to be very careful with the king in the center of the board ! 12... Bd7 Black wants to castle long. But White's space is huge on the board. b4 looks normal followed by f5 and all the black pieces will be under pressure. 13. b4 Ba7 14. Nd5 Ned4 both players did not want to exchange pieces so far! Kramnik will maybe open the f-file with fxe5 , putting some pressure on f7, c5 is an strong alternative and for example after 15.c5 dxc5 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17 Qh5 giving White a good advantage, so after 15.c5 O-O looks the best. After 15 moves , we can say that Carlsen's opening choice was not the best. He is already under pressure. 15. Nec3 Kramnik wants to keep all his pieces, a right decision because Black's pieces have not enough space. A typical Kramnik move! 15... Be6 Carlsen has no plan , his position is becoming really worse. It's time for Kramnik to play f5 and after 16...Bxd5 17.exd5 giving the e4-square for Knight and also a great position for the Russian player 16. f5 Bd7 Carlsen moved one more time his bishop . In my opinion the simple Rb1 or Ra2 with the idea to play next Qg4 is coming . Qg4 immediately is also possible, but Nb3 will possible for Carlsen . 17. Rb1 Nb8 Ouaouh ! Carlsen wants to play c6 next move , but this move looks so slow ... 18.Qg4 is super strong now! It's not possible to survive with this kind of moves against Kramnik. Strategically this position is just over because the black king is still in the center, no space for pieces, no good perspectives and no good plans. A strong alternative will be open to open the position with 18.c5 ! 18. c5 dxc5 after a deep anlysis , i will propose to play Qh5 . With the idea to play f6 at some point and the e5- pawn will be hanging ! Of course19.bxc5 is also good . For Kramnik , it's important to calculate everything, he knows that he is winning . 19. bxc5 Bc8 After playing Nb8 , now he played Bc8 ! It's really rare to see this in a top level game !! But Carlsen is just playing fast now , he wants to put some time pressure on Kramnik. All the pieces are well placed , it's time to play Qg4 ! 20. Qh5 Qh5 was an important mistake in my view . Because now after Bg5 , Carlsen will give the exchange but will have some compensations and the initiative for White will be lost . 20... Nd7 21. Na4 Logically, Kramnik doesn't want to enter in the endgame with 21.Bg5 . He decided to keep the pieces . But after 21...Nf6 , Carlsen is back in the game. Let's see 21...Nf6 22.Nxf6 Qxf6 23.g4 looks maybe interesting . And if the black queen moves , we can try f6 , a good pawn sacrifice21... c6 22. Ndb6 Nxc5 now , we have a crazy position ! Both sides are playing for the victory ! But Nc5 looks optimistic , Kramnik has to play f6 23. f6 Many pieces are attacked ! g5 is only move in this position . gxf6 doesn't work because of the beautiful Bg5 !! 23... g5 Now , i think the next moves are forced . 24.Nc8 Qc8 25.Nxc5 Bxc5 and 26.h4 ! giving White a good initiative. 24. Bxg5 Kramnik decided to play something else ! After Nxa4 25.Nxa8 and the position is complicated 24... Nxa4 In my opinion , Kramnik played many inaccurate moves, and his advantage is lost. All the black pieces are shinning now ! 25. Nxa8 b5 26. Be3 In my opinion, Kramnik is strategically in big trouble. The knight on a8 is almost lost and there is no more attack against the black king who is in a comfortable place on e8 ! 26... Bb8 27. g4 Rg8 The big question now is : What to do with White ? Which plan ? 28. Qxh6 Be6 The h6 is irrelevant, and Carlsen activated his rook . Step by step , he will improve his position . But the time trouble will arrive , and in this kind of position , everything is possible . Anyway , we have a emotional game today ! 29. Rbc1 Kd7 30. Bxd4 exd4+ 31. e5 good sequence from Kramnik , his only chance to survive is to open the position . And this sacrifice with e5 is strong ! 31... Nc3 32. Rxc3 and another good move from Kramnik , he finally played accurate moves . Black will be slightly better after 32...Bxe5 33.Kh1 dxc3 34.Qe3 with the idea to penetrate in the blackside with the queen on a7 . 32... Bxe5+ 33. Kh1 dxc3 34. Qe3 Qb8 Protecting the bishop, defending the important square on a7 and also , the queen , in the future , could be very dangerous if she comes in g3 ... 35. Qc5 Interesting move from Kramnik! The pawn c6 is weak , and Carlsen has to be precise in the zeitnot 35... Qd6 36. Qa7+ wrong choice from Kramnik , 35.d4 followed by 36.d5 was clearly the best choice. Now the king is in fact quiet safe on d8. It will be very difficult for Kramnik to save this position. 36... Kd8 37. Qxa6 Bd4 38. Qa5+ Kc8 Carlsen is playing like a machine ! Fast and accurate , he is really impressive in this zeitnot. The king will arrive on b8 and no more problem for Black , the position is almost lost for Kramnik. 39. Qa6+ Kd8 40. Qa5+ Kc8 41. Qa6+ And that is a surprise! I personally do not understand that, did Carlsen misunderstand the position? ½-½

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O e5 {This tournamenthas had a lot of strange moves very early in the opening, which has lead tomany interesting games. This move, again, is not new, but quite rare. Itpersonally sparked my attention when Jobava used it to bear Gharmian earlierthis year in a very convincing fashion.} 7. Bg5 $5 {The highest scoring move.White doesn't want to give Black any time to develop and doesn't wish toretreat!} (7. Nf3 d6 {Doesn't seem dangerous.}) (7. Nb3 d6 8. Nc3 Be7 {Is atypical Najdorf position but White has an extra tempo. On the other hand his Bon d3 is very akward. The strange move} 9. Be2 {Transposes back into amainline Be2 Najdorf.}) 7... h6 {The Women's World Champion's choice earlierthis year, but d6 is more popular} (7... d6 8. Nf5 Be6 9. Nc3 Nbd7 {was astrange position which favored Black at the end in Zhigalko-Bocharov this year.}) 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Nf5 g6 {The game's novelty. It makes sense to push the Nback, but at the same time the N will be going to e3, where it will cementcontrol over the very weakened d5. This system is very strange in that Blackhsa nearly no development, but his position isn't all that bad.} (9... d5 10.Nc3 $1 d4 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. Bc4 {in this position although Black has nearly nodevelopment, the position is solid and the Ns are a little overextended. Thiswas the game Kosintseva, T - Hou Yifan, Hanzhou WGM 2011 in which} Nc6 13. f4Na5 $6 14. Qd3 {ended up favoring White}) 10. Ne3 Bc5 {Keeping the B insidethe pawn chain would fail to justify the other weaknesses in Black's position.I like this placement.} 11. Nc3 d6 12. Ncd5 Qd8 13. c3 {this move looks to bea little slow, but let's take stock. White has really done as much as he canwithout committing to f4, which is not a move that looks pleasant consideringhow powerful the B on c5 would become. So, barring f4, what is White to do? Healready controls d5 - now what? These questions are not so obviously answered.}Be6 14. Bc2 {If White has to resort to these kind of maneouvres it is hard tosay Black is that much worse.} O-O 15. Ng4 (15. Bb3 Nd7 16. Qf3 Rc8 17. Rad1Kg7 18. Rd2 Qg5 {and it's quite easy to see Black eventually taking over theintiative in this position.}) 15... Nd7 $5 {A cool decision! Black sacrificesa pawn to finishd evelopment and start his own initiative on the kingside.} (15... Kg7 {was enough to give him a good game though.}) 16. Nxh6+ Kg7 17. Nf5+$1 {But Karjakin is no tame sheep to grab a pawn and hope to be able to defend.He starts a counterattack to try to get a perpetual before succumbing topassivity.} (17. Ng4 $6 Qg5 18. Nge3 Rh8 $17 {Is incredibly dangerous.}) 17...gxf5 18. exf5 Bxd5 19. Qg4+ Kh6 20. Qh3+ Kg5 {Of course, being ahead twopieces and with no mate in sight, Svidler doesn't wish to give up the draw soeasily. However Karjakin has calculated far enough.} 21. Qg3+ Kh5 22. Qg7 $1 {With the deadly threat of Bd1+ followed by mate. Black actually only has onedefensive resource!} Bf3 23. Qh7+ Kg5 24. Qg7+ Kh5 25. Qh7+ Kg5 26. Qg7+ Kh5 {Unfortunately there are no more winning attempts, and the perpetual seals thedraw. Despite being so short it was definitely a crazy game.} 1/2-1/2